Community engagement that reshaped housing plans 🏠 When Leigh Neighbours Big Local set out to understand residents’ concerns, they wanted to hear from every part of the community. They invited residents to write their ideas and suggestions directly onto a 3D model of the area. [1/2]

💡Help shape the future of health and wellbeing in Liverpool We’re seeking an organisation or collective to manage and deliver grant funding for Liverpool Beacons, an ambitious project focusing on community-led approaches to tackling health & wellbeing inequalities. Learn more: https://bit.ly/409Edug

How do we build & sustain meaningful community engagement? Big Local put power in residents’ hands, making community engagement central to decision-making. It wasn’t always easy, but areas found practical ways to make it work. Learn how on the Learning from Big Local website: https://bit.ly/3OGC4Ux

🔗In this blog, our programme manager Georgie Burr reflects on what community engagement looked like in Big Local, sharing examples of areas that successfully sustained local involvement. She also offers tips for funders & policymakers to better support community-led change: https://bit.ly/4si17vx

After 15 years of Big Local, one thing is clear: resident leadership takes time. Big Local set out to back residents with long-term, unconditional funding, and to increase residents’ capacity to make decisions that shape their communities for the better. [1/2]

Place-based research depends on meaningful community involvement – but not all researchers get it right. At our seminar on community-led research, researchers shared their experiences of working with communities. Our senior researcher, Jack Loughnane, shares three key lessons: https://bit.ly/4qRnMOh

Sue Ansarie started her Big Local journey as a resident volunteer. Today, she’s part of our research team, bringing lived experience into how we learn from community-led change. Here, Sue shares insights from Big Local areas on improving neighbourhood health and wellbeing: https://bit.ly/4s2Cu5S

What does resident leadership look like in practice? In this blog, our head of programme, Alex Boys, explains why resident leadership was central to Big Local’s success, and uses examples from Big Local areas to share practical lessons on nurturing resident leadership: https://bit.ly/4tKGsl9

Since 2015, almost 5,000 people have volunteered in Big Local. In this Charity People podcast episode, we explore volunteering in Big Local, with @maddiejennings.bsky.social discussing how it strengthens communities and how the government can support volunteer-led initiatives: https://bit.ly/3MT0NEo

Will the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill strengthen or weaken local democracy? @ipprnorth.bsky.social’s new report, supported by Local Trust, argues that unitarisation presents a rare opportunity for democratic renewal – if accompanied by intentional reforms. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4aEmeRD

Community health starts with community power. Just over 10 years into the programme, Big Local areas had collectively spent £6.3m on health and wellbeing activities, with 104 of 150 areas using their funding in this way. [1/2]

Join us and @futuregovforum.bsky.social for a webinar on how we build a new relationship between people and the state. 📅Tuesday 24 February 🕧12:30 – 1:30 pm 🔗 https://bit.ly/3Ohw4kU If you’re interested in neighbourhoods, community empowerment, & meaningful devolution, this conversation is for you.

For 15 years, Big Local communities have shown how powerful everyday spaces can be for health and wellbeing💚 In our blog, our senior programmes coordinator, Lucy Thurley, shares just two examples of how community action is improving health & wellbeing in Big Local areas: https://bit.ly/40hjLre

What can we achieve if we collectively listen to the people in our communities? Our knowledge exchange event with VONNE brings together people from across the North East to explore how power can be devolved to residents — and held there. Durham | 12 March 2026 | 9.30am - 4.30pm bit.ly/465K733

Across Big Local, community-run buildings have sparked real social, economic and civic change - but they can’t thrive without long-term backing. [1/2]

🏘️ Across Big Local areas, residents invested in over 200 community assets, improving their quality and accessibility, while also increasing community control and influence over them. Learn how they achieved this on the Learning from Big Local website: https://bit.ly/46I93O6

Can the Pride in Place programme really be a ‘break from the past’? Join us on 24 February for a lunchtime webinar with @futuregovforum.bsky.social, bringing together neighbourhood and community empowerment experts to explore whether it truly shifts power to local communities. 🔗 bit.ly/3Mec5mv 1/2

“When we invest in places, we’re really investing in people.” Our programme manager Helen Morton has seen first-hand the positive impact of community assets and spaces in Big Local areas. In this blog, she reflects on why these matter more than we often realise: https://bit.ly/3ZYCDeu

Local Trust is a time-limited trust, closing in 2027. We explore what this means in 'Better to spend out...?', a new report with Shared Intelligence on: -the value of time-limited trusts - what they have in common - how they shape decision-making, delivery and impact Read it here: bit.ly/45XzUFP

What themes have emerged from over a decade of learning from Big Local? The Learning from Big Local website offers a unique opportunity to explore ten themes that underpin work across Big Local areas - from community assets to resident leadership. Explore them all: https://bit.ly/3ZocYMb

In a new blog for the Local Government Chronicle, @maddiejennings.bsky.social sets out lessons in neighbourhood renewal from Big Local and highlights how Learning from Big Local brings evidence together to support further community-led change Read the blog here: https://bit.ly/4bEBS1n

Today is #TimeToTalkDay — a reminder to create spaces where people feel supported to talk about mental health. Learning from Big Local shows that strengthening the social environment can improve wellbeing, with population-level mental health improvements seen between 2011–2019. [1/2]

🎙️Listen to this episode of the Local Authority podcast, where we discuss why neighbourhood working is back on the political agenda. Here, @maddiejennings.bsky.social draws on our Big Local experience to discuss the benefits & challenges that come from working at this level: https://bit.ly/4rAjM5A

On the Learning from Big Local website, you can explore learning and insights from Big Local through a set of themes shaped by residents’ priorities. Each theme has its own page, bringing together research, insight and resident stories - see more here: https://bit.ly/4bw6J04

Last week, we launched Learning from Big Local. As our research manager, Chloe Juliette, puts it, “It’s a website, but an unusual one.” In her new blog, Chloe shares why Learning from Big Local matters and who it’s for - drawing on her experience leading its development. Read it here: bit.ly/3NRThda

2.3 million people in England still live in ‘doubly disadvantaged’ neighbourhoods without access to community-run buildings or other key local assets. Big Local has shown how vital these are to neighbourhood renewal. So why are so many communities still living without access to these spaces? [1/2]

In this blog, our head of policy and communications, @maddiejennings.bsky.social sets out why we are proud to support @right-here.org's Blueprint for community-powered neighbourhood governance. She also also explores six principles that underpin community-powered governance - read it below👇

Big Local began in 2010 as one of the UK’s boldest funding experiments, giving 150 communities time, trust and resources to lead local change on their own terms. Explore the Big Local timeline, featuring the milestones and moments that shaped the programme: https://bit.ly/4keehqM

New evidence: 150 areas, 15 years, £200m invested. Learning from Big Local offers one of the most comprehensive overviews on how long-term, trust-based funding can empower communities. 🧠 Browse the articles answering key questions about Big Local here → https://bit.ly/49XlB5e

Can a charitable mission succeed without engaging those in power? Our head of policy & communications @maddiejennings.bsky.social recently appeared on the @thirdsector.co.uk podcast, where she shared why real change needs relationships as well as evidence. 🎧 Listen now: https://bit.ly/49LA5q7

How did one community come together to save a hundred-year-old library? In Rastrick, West Yorkshire, more than 750 residents voted to protect their local library. Working alongside the community, the Rastrick Big Local allocated £65,000 of funding to restore period elements & make it accessible. 1/2

Did Big Local work? Today, we’re sharing ‘Civic rewilding: Applying the lessons from Big Local’, produced with @kinship.works. The report tells the story of Big Local, reflecting on what it achieved over 15 years in 150 neighbourhoods across England, and how. Read it here: https://bit.ly/49IGjqH

“After 15 years, 150 communities, & over £200m invested, we know more than ever about how real community power is built - and sustained.” In this blog, our CEO Rachel Rowney reflects on the launch of Learning for Big Local & sets out why the lessons from Big Local matter now: https://bit.ly/4pZxwFC

🚀 It’s here. Launching today: Learning from Big Local - a new website with 15 years of lessons from community-led change. Explore research and stories from 150 hyper-local areas - this is your resource for community-led change. Visit the website: https://bit.ly/4rbcuop

“Back in 2024, I started working on a project to capture what 150 communities taught us about leading change where they live. Next week, we finally get to share it with the world.” Chloe Juliette, research manager, Local Trust. 26 January - sign up to be the first to know: https://bit.ly/4pTcA2U

Putting power back into residents' hands couldn’t be more urgent. New Neighbourhood Governance arrangements are being shaped now. Done right, they could shift power to communities. Our briefing with @right-here.org, @hopenothate.org.uk, & @powertochange.org.uk sets out how: https://bit.ly/3LYgzxi

As we get ready to share some big news next week, watch this short film that brings together reflections from residents, workers and partners on the legacy Big Local is leaving in their communities. 🎥 https://bit.ly/49VgZg6 ✉️ Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know: https://bit.ly/49Oc00D

Too many debates about what’s ‘broken’ in the UK focus on systems and institutions - not the people living with the consequences. @jamestplunkett.bsky.social's latest blog draws on research on Big Local, highlighting what becomes possible when residents are trusted with time, resources and trust.

Over the past 15 years, residents in 150 Big Local areas have led decisions to transform their communities. They've been learning how long-term change grows from trust, time, and local leadership. Next week, we will share the culmination of that learning – stay tuned.

We're delighted to see Angie Buss recognised in the New Year Honours for her outstanding leadership of Blackpool’s Revoelution Big Local. Revoe is the second most deprived area in England, & Angie’s work has helped change how residents experience their neighbourhood. Read how: https://bit.ly/3NgkQwy

Yesterday, Tanya Vice, Project Manager at Heart of Sidley Community Association, gave evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee at a session for their inquiry into community cohesion. Listen to her insights on how youth services can be designed to create community cohesion 👇

We’re spotlighting Christine Pattinson, who was recognised in this year’s New Year Honours. ⭐ Since joining the Distington Big Local partnership in 2012, Christine has helped bring residents together to deliver projects shaped by local priorities. Read what they've achieved: https://bit.ly/4qmHkL1

Like us, @right-here.org know what’s possible when communities have real power. They argue that The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill doesn’t go far enough to enable this. Write to the Minister to push for changes that put power in the hands of local residents: https://bit.ly/4qWrMgR

We're proud to celebrate Donna-Marie Inwood, recognised in this year’s New Year Honours. Under her leadership, Leecliffe Big Local reconnected a fragmented community, creating real, measurable change for children, young people and older residents. Find out how: https://bit.ly/4pDGGY1

Keeping it green 🌲 What role do green spaces play in building community pride? A @moreincommonuk.bsky.social report, published at the end of last year, showed that the majority of Britons agree green spaces are a collective asset, providing opportunity to build bonds across communities. [1/2]

We are proud to spotlight three Big Local heroes who have been recognised in the New Year Honours List 2026: Donna-Marie Inwood from Leecliffe Big Local, Christine Pattinson from Distington Big Local and Angie Buss from Blackpool Revoe Big Local⭐ Read more about the honours: https://bit.ly/4jzbFmQ

Reminder! Register now for our free learning series in February, developed for funders and civil society, in partnership with London Funders, to share 15 years of insights from delivering Big Local. 🔗https://bit.ly/3Ngd9pX [1 /2]

“The community built PEACH, and we had a voice. So once we had a voice, they stood up and they listened.” With over a decade of organising with the community of Custom House and Canning Town, we’re pleased to share this film from The People's Empowerment Alliance for Custom House (PEACH).

Some exciting news to start the year! We’re thrilled that three individuals from Big Local Areas have been awarded the British Empire Medal in the King’s New Years Honors, recognising the incredible impact they’ve had on their local communities.

📢 Local Trust will be closed for the Christmas break from 24 December 2025, reopening and resuming normal operations on 2 January 2026. Wishing you a restful festive season and a very happy New Year! We’ve got some big announcements coming in 2026, so stay tuned!